Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers or deputy ministers have written to the Home Office regarding the impact on their responsibilities of issues relating to (a) asylum seekers in general or (b) individual asylum seekers since May 1999.

Ms Margaret Curran: Ministers have written to the Home Office about practical issues relating to the dispersal of asylum seekers into Scotland’s communities.

Audiology

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support patients and families where the newborn hearing impairment screening programme identifies hearing loss.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Public Health Institute of Scotland report, NHS Audiology Services in Scotland, recommends that NHS boards should develop and implement an early intervention programme to meet the treatment and support needs of children and their families affected by the early diagnosis of hearing loss through the screening programme.

  I would also refer you to the answer given to S2W-1824 on 27 August 2003. All written answers are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

Child Protection

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is preparing a Scottish chapter to the five-yearly report on the monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to be submitted by Her Majesty’s Government in 2004 to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; when it will publish this chapter, and whether the chapter will include its views about the detention of children in Dungavel House immigration removal centre in relation to the UNCRC.

Peter Peacock: The timetable for submission by Her Majesty’s Government of the next periodic report on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is by 14 March 2008. As this report, which will combine the third and fourth periodic reports to the UN Committee, is some considerable time away it is premature to speculate on what any Scottish contribution might contain.

Civil Servants

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to amend, withhold or remove a civil servant’s entitlement to pension benefits from Civil Service pension funds; to which pension funds these powers apply, and in what circumstances such powers would be exercised.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the amendment, denial or removal of a civil servant’s entitlement to pension benefits from Civil Service pension funds. Such powers are held by the Minister for the Civil Service.

Council Tax

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much council tax was collected by each local authority in each of the last five years and what percentage this represented of council tax due.

Tavish Scott: Data on the income received by each local authority from council tax for each year (excluding reliefs and rebates) and the percentage this represents of council tax due in each year (the "in-year collection rate") are given in Tables 1 and 2. Figures for 2002-03 are from data supplied directly to the Scottish Executive by local authorities. Figures for previous years are taken from Accounts Commission publications.

  The in-year collection figures record income received in the same year that the bill is issued. Continuing collection activity and debt recovery in subsequent years results in additional council tax income. Tables 3 and 4 show for each local authority the amount collected and the percentage this represents of council tax due for each of the billing years from 1998-99 to 2002-03 as at 31 March 2003.

  Table 1. Council Tax Received: Scotland and Local Authority1,2 Level

  

 
 Amount 
  collected during billing year


 1998-99
Amount Received at 31 March 1999
(£000)
 1999-2000
Amount Received at 31 March 2000
(£000)
 2000-01
Amount Received at 31 March 2001
(£000)
 2001-02
Amount Received at 31 March 2002
(£000)
 2002-03
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)


 Scotland
 1,052,395
 1,109,883
 1,195,447
 1,293,306
 1,381,737


 Aberdeen City
 53,135
 54,911
 58,433
 62,734
 65,760


 Aberdeenshire
 51,228
 52,437
 58,109
 65,239
 71,572


 Angus
 21,990
 23,078
 24,498
 26,479
 28,844


 Argyll and Bute
 23,939
 24,623
 26,585
 28,445
 29,797


 Clackmannanshire
 9,359
 9,879
 10,705
 11,404
 11,999


 Dumfries and Galloway
 29,864
 32,526
 35,612
 37,871
 39,757


 Dundee City
 29,971
 31,074
 31,652
 32,017
 33,534


 East Ayrshire
 19,412
 21,088
 22,717
 24,597
 26,493


 East Dunbartonshire
 29,378
 31,320
 31,490
 33,769
 35,826


 East Lothian
 20,049
 22,031
 24,756
 27,088
 28,963


 East Renfrewshire
 22,777
 24,858
 26,843
 28,939
 31,093


 Edinburgh, City of
 121,348
 125,238
 131,553
 143,199
 151,500


 Eilean Siar
 4,093
 4,333
 4,513
 4,894
 5,382


 Falkirk
 25,117
 26,709
 28,968
 31,942
 34,748


 Fife
 70,270
 73,730
 78,080
 84,676
 91,921


 Glasgow City
 103,639
 107,442
 115,848
 123,881
 130,051


 Highland
 47,342
 49,844
 53,156
 57,413
 62,410


 Inverclyde
 14,452
 15,215
 16,377
 19,144
 20,311


 Midlothian
 18,677
 20,378
 21,562
 23,039
 24,008


 Moray
 16,093
 16,996
 18,721
 20,138
 21,435


 North Ayrshire
 22,871
 25,025
 27,043
 29,734
 32,241


 North Lanarkshire
 49,755
 54,443
 59,722
 65,317
 70,229


 Orkney
 3,449
 3,640
 4,058
 4,502
 4,994


 Perth and Kinross
 32,609
 33,871
 36,570
 40,952
 44,951


 Renfrewshire
 33,958
 35,749
 40,107
 43,585
 46,132


 Scottish Borders
 21,560
 22,882
 25,159
 27,654
 30,726


 Shetland
 3,450
 3,862
 4,298
 4,777
 5,241


 South Ayrshire
 25,850
 27,284
 29,411
 31,348
 33,394


 South Lanarkshire
 59,797
 63,222
 70,394
 73,263
 76,746


 Stirling
 20,323
 22,046
 24,792
 27,129
 29,495


 West Dunbartonshire
 18,030
 18,081
 18,386
 20,608
 22,037


 West Lothian
 28,610
 32,068
 35,329
 37,526
 40,147



  Source: Information supplied to Scottish Executive (2002-03) and Accounts Commission publications Data Compendium 2000/2001: Performance information for Scottish Councils and Performance indicators compendium 2001/2002 (copies are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre: Bib. numbers 19223 and 28827 respectively).

  1. All figures are net of discounts (e.g. single persons discount) and exemptions. For 2002-03 the figures exclude surcharges (although East Renfrewshire, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire and West Lothian cannot exclude surcharges).

  The figures are before any amounts written off for bad or doubtful debt and reflect any correction to liabilities following billing.

  2. Excludes council tax benefit and water and sewerage charges.

  Table 2. Summary of Council Tax Percentage Collected: Scotland and Local Authority1,2 Level

  

 
 Percentage 
  Collected During Billing Year


 1998-99
% Collected of Amount Billed at 31 March 
  1999
 1999-2000
% Collected of Amount Billed at 31 March 
  2000
 2000-01
% Collected of Amount Billed at 31 March 
  2001
 2001-02
% Collected of Amount Billed at 31 March 
  2002
 2002-03
% Collected of Amount Billed at 31 March 
  2003


 Scotland
 87.2
 88.3
 89.2
 90.6
 91.3


 Aberdeen City
 89.6
 89.7
 89.9
 89.8
 90.2


 Aberdeenshire
 94.2
 91.8
 93.2
 93.8
 94.0


 Angus
 93.5
 93.6
 93.9
 94.5
 94.7


 Argyll and Bute
 88.3
 90.1
 91.8
 92.5
 93.0


 Clackmannanshire
 86.6
 86.7
 88.5
 89.7
 90.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 88.1
 92.0
 93.5
 94.2
 93.3


 Dundee City
 87.3
 86.6
 85.0
 85.0
 85.7


 East Ayrshire
 81.8
 83.2
 85.3
 86.4
 88.3


 East Dunbartonshire
 90.0
 91.0
 91.0
 92.9
 93.6


 East Lothian
 87.2
 90.8
 92.4
 94.2
 94.5


 East Renfrewshire
 91.2
 93.3
 93.5
 94.5
 94.7


 Edinburgh, City of
 87.7
 88.1
 88.1
 90.3
 90.7


 Eilean Siar
 90.1
 89.7
 87.8
 88.9
 91.1


 Falkirk
 91.6
 92.3
 93.1
 93.8
 94.0


 Fife
 91.8
 90.4
 89.2
 90.9
 91.9


 Glasgow City
 77.3
 78.9
 80.1
 81.5
 83.7


 Highland
 90.1
 91.1
 91.4
 92.2
 92.6


 Inverclyde
 77.2
 81.3
 80.3
 87.0
 88.0


 Midlothian
 88.6
 90.7
 91.5
 92.9
 93.1


 Moray
 91.0
 92.9
 92.3
 92.7
 92.7


 North Ayrshire
 83.8
 85.2
 87.2
 89.5
 88.8


 North Lanarkshire
 83.8
 86.2
 87.9
 90.8
 92.2


 Orkney
 96.1
 96.3
 96.4
 97.3
 97.7


 Perth and Kinross
 93.1
 92.1
 93.5
 94.1
 95.0


 Renfrewshire
 87.4
 89.4
 91.0
 93.0
 93.5


 Scottish Borders
 95.2
 95.7
 95.7
 96.3
 95.8


 Shetland
 94.3
 94.5
 95.2
 95.8
 96.6


 South Ayrshire
 88.2
 91.5
 93.3
 93.9
 93.5


 South Lanarkshire
 87.1
 87.9
 93.2
 93.2
 93.5


 Stirling
 92.1
 93.7
 93.9
 95.0
 95.8


 West Dunbartonshire
 76.6
 80.4
 79.6
 84.5
 87.0


 West Lothian
 84.3
 88.5
 90.3
 91.4
 91.4



  Source: Information supplied to Scottish Executive (2003-03) and Accounts Commission publications Data compendium 2000/2001: Performance information for Scottish Councils and Performance indicators compendium 2001/2002 (copies are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre: Bib numbers 19223 and 28827 respectively).

  1. All figures are net of discounts (e.g. single persons discount) and exemptions. For 2002-2003 the figures exclude surcharges (although East Renfrewshire, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire and West Lothian cannot exclude surcharges).

  The figures are before any amounts written off for bad or doubtful debt and reflect any correction to liabilities following billing.

  2. Excludes council tax benefit and water and sewerage charges.

  Table 3. Council Tax Received: Scotland and Local Authority1,2 Level

  

 
 Year 
  to Which Bill Refers


 1998-99
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)
 1999-2000
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)
 2000-01
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)
 2001-02
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)
 2002-03
Amount Received at 31 March 2003
(£000)


 Scotland
 1,134,703
 1,179,489
 1,249,113
 1,324,843
 1,381,737


 Aberdeen City
 55,874
 57,699
 60,797
 64,095
 65,760


 Aberdeenshire
 53,019
 54,635
 59,898
 66,453
 71,572


 Angus
 22,943
 23,911
 25,279
 26,960
 28,844


 Argyll and Bute
 25,746
 25,814
 27,537
 29,028
 29,797


 Clackmannanshire
 9,871
 10,676
 11,256
 11,754
 11,999


 Dumfries and Galloway
 32,433
 33,828
 36,570
 38,511
 39,757


 Dundee City
 32,408
 33,575
 33,719
 33,298
 33,534


 East Ayrshire
 21,192
 22,155
 23,568
 25,413
 26,493


 East Dunbartonshire
 30,960
 32,546
 32,567
 34,288
 35,826


 East Lothian
 21,941
 23,308
 25,666
 27,538
 28,963


 East Renfrewshire
 24,568
 26,002
 27,875
 29,686
 31,093


 Edinburgh, City of
 128,685
 132,853
 136,899
 146,035
 151,500


 Eilean Siar
 4,324
 4,557
 4,803
 5,086
 5,382


 Falkirk
 26,645
 27,897
 29,962
 32,631
 34,748


 Fife
 74,474
 78,710
 83,492
 88,003
 91,921


 Glasgow City
 117,173
 119,403
 123,703
 128,864
 130,051


 Highland
 50,177
 52,228
 55,455
 58,714
 62,410


 Inverclyde
 16,764
 16,994
 18,036
 19,723
 20,311


 Midlothian
 20,078
 21,448
 22,407
 23,429
 24,008


 Moray
 17,140
 17,689
 19,493
 20,617
 21,435


 North Ayrshire
 25,600
 27,099
 28,567
 30,765
 32,241


 North Lanarkshire
 56,263
 59,282
 62,981
 67,147
 70,229


 Orkney
 3,537
 3,727
 4,137
 4,537
 4,994


 Perth and Kinross
 33,816
 35,471
 37,664
 41,716
 44,951


 Renfrewshire
 37,050
 37,345
 41,156
 43,926
 46,132


 Scottish Borders
 22,069
 23,283
 25,524
 27,843
 30,726


 Shetland
 3,589
 4,017
 4,440
 4,876
 5,241


 South Ayrshire
 28,204
 28,788
 30,535
 32,210
 33,394


 South Lanarkshire
 64,084
 68,018
 71,352
 74,140
 76,746


 Stirling
 21,535
 22,944
 25,525
 27,577
 29,495


 West Dunbartonshire
 20,376
 19,505
 21,385
 21,016
 22,037


 West Lothian
 32,165
 34,082
 36,865
 38,964
 40,147



  Source: Information supplied by councils to Scottish Executive on the statistical return council tax, non-domestic rates and community charge receipts.

  1. All figures are net of discounts (e.g. single persons discount), exemptions and surcharges (although East Renfrewshire, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire and West Lothian cannot exclude surcharges).

  The figures are before any amounts written off for bad or doubtful debt and reflect any correction to liabilities following billing.

  2. Excludes council tax benefit and water and sewerage charges.

  Table 4. Summary of Reported Council Tax Percentage Received, by Year to Which the Bill Refers: Scotland and Local Authority1,2 Level

  

 
 Year 
  to Which Bill Refers


 1998-99
% of Amount Billed at 31 March 2003
 1999-2000
% of Amount Billed at 31 March 2003
 2000-01
% of Amount Billed at 31 March 2003
 2001-02
% of Amount Billed at 31 March 2003
 2002-03
% of Amount Billed at 31 March 2003


 Scotland
 94.7
 94.4
 93.7
 93.2
 91.3


 Aberdeen City
 95.7
 95.7
 94.8
 93.0
 90.2


 Aberdeenshire
 97.8
 96.3
 96.4
 95.8
 94.0


 Angus
 98.0
 97.8
 97.5
 96.9
 94.7


 Argyll and Bute
 95.9
 95.1
 95.6
 94.8
 93.0


 Clackmannanshire
 91.9
 94.0
 93.5
 92.7
 90.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 96.9
 97.1
 96.5
 96.1
 93.3


 Dundee City
 95.9
 94.5
 91.8
 89.9
 85.7


 East Ayrshire
 90.3
 89.8
 89.9
 90.5
 88.3


 East Dunbartonshire
 95.3
 94.8
 94.4
 94.4
 93.6


 East Lothian
 96.7
 96.8
 96.3
 96.0
 94.5


 East Renfrewshire
 98.3
 97.3
 97.0
 96.7
 94.7


 Edinburgh, City of
 94.8
 94.6
 93.1
 93.1
 90.7


 Eilean Siar
 96.3
 95.3
 94.2
 93.0
 91.1


 Falkirk
 97.3
 96.7
 96.5
 96.0
 94.0


 Fife
 96.7
 95.8
 94.7
 93.8
 91.9


 Glasgow City
 87.9
 87.9
 86.5
 85.5
 83.7


 Highland
 96.1
 95.7
 95.5
 94.1
 92.6


 Inverclyde
 93.0
 91.4
 90.2
 90.5
 88.0


 Midlothian
 95.7
 95.7
 95.3
 94.6
 93.1


 Moray
 97.2
 96.7
 96.2
 95.2
 92.7


 North Ayrshire
 93.0
 92.4
 91.5
 91.9
 88.8


 North Lanarkshire
 94.6
 94.0
 93.3
 93.8
 92.2


 Orkney
 99.1
 98.9
 98.5
 98.2
 97.7


 Perth and Kinross
 97.7
 97.1
 96.8
 96.2
 95.0


 Renfrewshire
 95.4
 94.0
 94.1
 94.0
 93.5


 Scottish Borders
 97.8
 97.7
 97.4
 97.1
 95.8


 Shetland
 99.1
 99.2
 99.0
 98.4
 96.6


 South Ayrshire
 96.2
 96.4
 96.3
 95.7
 93.5


 South Lanarkshire
 93.5
 94.9
 94.8
 94.5
 93.5


 Stirling
 97.9
 97.6
 96.9
 96.8
 95.8


 West Dunbartonshire
 88.0
 86.7
 86.3
 86.9
 87.0


 West Lothian
 94.4
 94.2
 94.2
 93.6
 91.4



  Source: Information supplied by councils to Scottish Executive on the statistical return council tax, non-domestic rates and community charge receipts.

  1. All figures are net of discounts (e.g. single persons discount), exemptions and surcharges (although East Renfrewshire, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire and West Lothian cannot exclude surcharges).

  The figures are before any amounts written off for bad or doubtful debt and reflect any correction to liabilities following billing.

  2. Excludes council tax benefit and water and sewerage charges.

Credit Unions

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it will provide for credit unions.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: As part of our Partnership Agreement commitment to support the development of credit unions, I am announcing today the Scottish Credit Union Capacity Fund. This will make support available of up to £1.1 million over the next three years, of which £650,000 is new funding. This is to back the development of strong sustainable credit unions so they can then meet the needs of those 13% of Scots who don’t have access to mainstream financial products.

Dairy Produce

Mr Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dairy (a) herds and (b) cows there have been in (i) Kintyre, (ii) the Isle of Gigha and (iii) the Isle of Islay in each year since 1984.

Ross Finnie: The data requested is given in the following table.

  Number of Dairy Cows on the Isle of Gigha, Kintyre and Isle of Islay: Data Taken from the June Agricultural Census of Main and Minor Holdings

  

 Year
 Isle 
  of Gigha
 Isle 
  of Islay
 Kintyre


 Holdings
 Number
 Holdings
 Number
 Holdings
 Number


 1984
 9
 516
 21
 1,031
 105
 6,520


 1985
 9
 491
 19
 931
 103
 6,415


 1986
 9
 511
 19
 969
 96
 6,368


 1987
 9
 522
 17
 969
 96
 6,277


 1988
 9
 480
 17
 883
 94
 5,974


 1989
 7
 420
 15
 854
 92
 5,799


 1990
 6
 340
 14
 937
 89
 5,749


 1991
 6
 360
 13
 804
 86
 5,863


 1992
 6
 367
 15
 811
 80
 5,515


 1993
 7
 369
 14
 831
 81
 5,608


 1994
 6
 381
 16
 978
 76
 5,702


 1995
 7
 386
 15
 801
 76
 5,688


 1996
 6
 384
 14
 792
 74
 5,556


 1997
 6
 368
 15
 794
 74
 5,656


 1998
 6
 371
 15
 777
 73
 5,510


 1999
 6
 327
 14
 709
 66
 5,263


 2000
 6
 330
 13
 400
 64
 5,256


 2001
 6
 311
 10
 232
 62
 5,372


 2002
 6
 321
 9
 215
 59
 5,067

Dairy Produce

Mr Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the dairy yield in litres has been in (a) Kintyre, (b) the Isle of Gigha and (c) the Isle of Islay in each year since 1984.

Ross Finnie: These data are not available.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review NHS dentists E contracts.

Mr Tom McCabe: As outlined in the White Paper Partnership for Care we undertook to discuss with the dental profession proposals for changes to the system for rewarding primary care dentistry. Following discussions with the profession, we have introduced a number of measures designed to promote prevention, improve access and improve recruitment and retention. We will continue to consider further measures.

Energy Conservation

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities on the meaning of "significant improvement" in energy efficiency under section 2 of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; whether it has set any targets for such authorities (a) collectively and (b) individually in respect of making such an improvement, and what annual improvements in home energy efficiency have been achieved by each local authority since the act came into force.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Targets for improving the energy efficiency of residential accommodation under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) are not set by the Scottish Executive; they are agreed with local authorities. The HECA is intended to promote a significant improvement in home energy efficiency over a period of 10 to 15 years from 1 April 1997. Scottish Office Circular 40/1996 defines the term "significant improvement" as being a 30% improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation, but the circular recognises that a figure of that magnitude may not be practicable or cost-effective for all parts of the stock or for all local authority areas. Authorities are therefore given the facility to set a different figure for their area or for parts of their stock. A number of local authorities have set a different figure. As local authorities purse their HECA strategies they may decide that the figure should be revised, or further revised, either upward or downwards.

  A report on further improvements in energy efficiency as reported by local authorities in their returns under the HECA will be published later this year and copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre.

Energy Conservation

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to direct local authorities to employ dedicated home energy conservation officers.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Local authorities Ereports under the Home Energy Conservation Act show that a number of them do have dedicated home energy conservation officers. Others incorporate energy conservation with relevant functions such as control of council stock or housing improvements. It is for local authorities to decide what works best for their areas and the Executive will not be giving them directions on how to deploy their staff.

  The Scottish Executive does not plan to direct local authorities to employ dedicated home energy conservation officers.

European Funding

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the allocation of European funding has on public expenditure in Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: European Structural Funds are neither additional to, nor a replacement for, national expenditure. Provision for Structural Funds is made within the Scottish assigned budget, but is additional to the organisation which directly benefits from the funding at a local level.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to establishing a single national accreditation scheme for property managers.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF) report included a recommendation that the Scottish Executive should, through Communities Scotland, establish a single national voluntary accreditation scheme for property managers in Scotland in partnership with the industry, local authorities and consumer interests.

  The Executive is considering this recommendation along with others contained in the HITF report in the light of its recent consultation on the report and will bring forward proposals to implement appropriate elements of the report.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage pilot schemes to ensure best practice for the establishment of reserve or sinking funds for the owners of tenement buildings.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has no plans to encourage pilot schemes in connection with reserve or sinking funds for the owners of tenement buildings.

Housing

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have sought approval, or have indicated that they intend to seek approval, for the designation of pressured areas under section 45 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Ms Margaret Curran: No local authority has so far submitted proposals to Scottish ministers to designate pressured areas under the provisions introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the results of its consultation paper, Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation .

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the recommendations in its Central Research Unit report, A review of the first year of the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation in Scotland .

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive undertook an overall review of the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, which took into account:

  the findings of the research report, A review of the first year of the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation in Scotland, commissioned by the Executive from Heriot Watt University;

  the responses to the consultation paper on possible changes to exemptions from the scheme;

  the report of the Social Justice Committee into HMO licensing, and

  other correspondence and representations received by the Scottish Executive.

  The outcome of this review was announced by the Minister for Social Justice on 19 March 2003, accompanied by an official letter to all local authorities, respondents to the consultation paper and other interested bodies and correspondents. The Scottish Executive provided its response to the report of the Social Justice Committee on 24 March. A summary of responses to the consultation paper is available on the Scottish Executive website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/DD/H2/00016501/page634519723.pdf.

  The Scottish Executive does not intend to report separately on the results of the consultation paper. The recommendations of the research will be further taken into account by the working group which is being convened to produce revised guidance for local authorities, and to devise a self-certification scheme for publicly accountable HMO landlords.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to domesticity licences in the consultation paper, Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation , and the research commissioned from Heriot Watt University on houses in multiple occupation.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The term "domesticity licence" is not recognised in relation to housing matters. It is not used in either the consultation paper or the research on houses in multiple occupation.

Learning Disabilities

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the provision of respite care for adults with learning difficulties.

Mr Tom McCabe: Providing short breaks for people with learning disabilities is a matter for local authorities and NHS boards. The same as you? recommended a range of flexible short breaks that meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and their carers. Information about the provision of community short breaks will be provided in the statistical return referred to in the answer to question S2W-1890 on 1 September 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  The resources allocated by the Executive to local authorities to support carers, including resources to develop respite services, will have risen from £5 million in 1999-2000 to £21 million in the period 2003-04. We are monitoring through local agreements the outcomes achieved by individual councils for the significant resources we are providing specifically to develop additional respite services.

Learning Disabilities

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the provision of specialist or supported homes for adults with learning difficulties.

Mr Tom McCabe: Provision of such homes is a matter for local decision, to meet the needs of people living in the area concerned.

  In addition, Supporting People came into effect on 1 April 2003 with £200 million of funding during the first year of the programme, a proportion of which will go towards learning disability clients.

Licensing

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it first received the report of the Nicholson Committee on licensing; whether it previously received the report in draft and, if so, on what date or dates, and when the report will now be published.

Cathy Jamieson: The report was published on 19 August 2003. Sheriff Principal Nicholson outlined the recommendations likely to be made in the report to my predecessor prior to the election. The report was received by the Executive in final form at the end of March, but could not be published at that time because of the election.

Livestock

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether horse passports will be signed, or indelibly marked, after being examined at an abattoir.

Ross Finnie: The declaration on horse passports will have been required to have been signed at least six months before a horse is presented at an abattoir. The passport will be examined at the abattoir before the horse is slaughtered to ensure that the declaration stating that the animal is intended for the human food chain has been signed and that no prohibited medicines have been administered or that the withdrawal period for other medicines has been satisfied.

Livestock

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether horse passports will be required for equines being shipped to Ireland, or the continent, in 2004.

Ross Finnie: It will be necessary for horse passports to be obtained for all equines in Scotland from 1 January 2004. The main purpose of the passport is to protect human health by recording all veterinary medicines that have been administered to horses that have been identified as destined for the human food chain.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings were held by Argyll and Clyde NHS Board with Greater Glasgow NHS Board in relation to the review of maternity services; what the names and designations were of those present at the meetings; what issues were discussed, and what specific conclusions were agreed by both boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: While I am aware that there have been a number of meetings between NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow in relation the former’s review of maternity services, I have asked the Chief Executive of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board to write with the details. A copy will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to the letter of 4 June 2003 from Alex Salmond MP, which was transferred to it for reply from Her Majesty’s Government’s Department of Health, regarding our constituent Mr Hosie.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive received Mr Salmond’s letter from the Department of Health on 14 August. Officials have been unable to identify the cause of the delay between the letter being written and being received in the Scottish Executive. I replied to Mr Salmond on 27 August.

NHS Expenditure

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any guidelines for NHS boards about minimising air travel costs for consultants and others contracted to carry out work for boards through advance ticket booking and what monitoring it carries out on this issue.

Malcolm Chisholm: No such guidelines are in place. Travel costs incurred by NHS boards are a matter for local management and NHS boards are expected to manage such costs in an efficient, effective and economical manner.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for medical staff planning of flexible staff training.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are a number of factors that require to be taken into account when planning the future shape of the medical workforce including:

  The balance between working and non-working life.

  The gender split within the medical workforce with an increasing proportion of female staff.

  The pattern and content of training which ensures that the individual is fit for purpose.

  Issues which underpin the provision of medical services, including implications for training, are being considered by a short-life working group established to review medical career structures in Scotland. This group is being led by Professor Sir John Temple and is due to report its findings to Scottish ministers later this year. The report of this review will inform any subsequent work and work currently on-going in the specific area of medical workforce planning.

  There needs to be a balance between sustaining service delivery and providing training which will benefit the organisation and the individual. This will vary from specialty to specialty and be taken into account when workforce plans are finalised.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether flexible medical staff training will require an increase in the number of places at medical schools to meet consultant requirements.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1972 today, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottishparliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

  The output from and input to our medical schools is currently being considered as part of a review of basic medical education in Scotland being led by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman. This review is due to report its findings to Scottish ministers later this year and will complement the review of medical career structures referred to in the answer to question S2W-1972. The Executive awaits the reports for these reviews before deciding on what further action may be needed to ensure that Scotland trains, retains and recruits the doctors required to meet its workforce needs.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for medical workforce planning, broken down by medical speciality.

Malcolm Chisholm: Work to identify, support and secure the doctors required to meet Scotland’s workforce needs is being taken forward in a number of ways as part of our on-going activity in workforce planning and development.

  Working for Health EThe Workforce Development Action Plan for NHSScotland, published in August 2002, set out the Scottish Executive’s integrated approach to workforce planning and development for all NHS staff at local, regional and national levels. To take forward effective joint working on medical workforce planning we have established a National Workforce Committee to work with the National Workforce Unit of the Scottish Executive Health Department and with NHS Education for Scotland.

  To inform current and future activity in the area of medical workforce planning, I have also commissioned Professor Sir Kenneth Calman and Professor Sir John Temple to lead complementary reviews into, respectively, Basic Medical Education in Scotland and Medical Career Structures in Scotland. These reviews are both due to report to Scottish ministers later this year.

  I also announced in Scotland in February 2003 Modernising Medical Careers, the response of the four UK Health Ministers to the consultation on Unfinished Business: Proposals for Reform of the Senior House Officer Grade. Modernising Medical Careers sets out the next steps in a process to make sure that the talents of our medical workforce are realised and used to best effect.

  In addition, efforts are continuing to support workforce planning and recruitment initiatives to address particular problems in specific specialities. For example, within the National Workforce Unit, work is under way in the "pathfinder" specialties of cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease, mental health and maternity services to implement planning infrastructures that will cut across regions and staff groups to identify the most effective ways of organising services across NHSScotland. This approach will be rolled out to other specialties in the future.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current gender balance in medical undergraduates has any implications for medical workforce planning.

Malcolm Chisholm: Gender balance, both of our medical undergraduates and of our medical workforce, is one of many factors currently being considered in Scotland as part of two complementary medical workforce reviews, namely:

  A Review of Basic Medical Education being led by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, and

  A Review of Medical Career Structures being led by Professor Sir John Temple

  These reviews are both due to report their findings to Scottish ministers later this year. The Executive awaits the reports for these reviews before deciding on what further action may be needed to ensure that Scotland trains, retains and recruits the doctors required to meet its workforce needs.

NHS Waiting Lists

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients on the true waiting list have been given Availability Status Code (a) 2, (b) 3, (c) 4, (d) 8, (e) 9, (f) A and (g) X (temporary code) in each quarter since June 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Availability Status Codes were introduced to accommodate the abolition of the deferred waiting list on 1 April 2003. These codes replaced Guarantee Exception Codes and were available for use on NHS waiting lists from November 2002 to allow the smooth transition of cases from the deferred waiting list to the true waiting list prior to the formers abolition. A comprehensive National Statistics notification describing these changes and their likely impact on waiting lists can be found at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/acute_activity/change_notification.doc.

  Due to the changes described above it is not possible to provide a trend in the use of Availability Status Codes. The table prepared presents data for each quarterly in-patient/day case waiting list census from 30 June 1999 to 31 March 2003, and incorporates information on the use of Guarantee Exception Codes/Availability Status Codes, number on the deferred waiting list and total- this latter category being the nearest equivalent of the total number of cases with an Availability Status Code under present recording definitions.

  The information was placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28791) on the 20 August 2003.

National Lottery Funding

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent on, projects in each of the six areas designated under the Fairshare programme between the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund since the programme was established.

Mr Frank McAveety: The distribution of national lottery funds is a matter for the Lottery Distribution Bodies: Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen,  sportscotland, New Opportunities Fund, Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Millennium Commission. The information requested is not held centrally.

  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport maintains a database of national lottery awards on their website which sets out the total awarded to each constituency area and each local authority area for each lottery good cause.

Non-Domestic Rates

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the national non-domestic rates income pool to ensure it meets the full cost of any discretionary award to a rural post office.

Mr Andy Kerr: Under the existing rural (village shop) rate relief scheme, qualifying post offices are eligible for 50% mandatory rate relief. Local authorities have discretionary powers to top this relief up to 100%. Mandatory rate relief and 75% of any discretionary rate relief are funded by allowing the local authority concerned to reduce its payment to the non-domestic rates pool by a corresponding amount. The local authority pays for 25% of any discretionary relief. We have no plans to change these funding arrangements.

Post Office

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32326 by Allan Wilson on 16 December 2002, whether it has had any discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the social and economic implications of the involvement of banks with Post Office Ltd in the payment of benefits and allowances.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the impact of recent changes to the ways benefits are paid.

Public Bodies

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the use of proprietary and non-proprietary document formats where such documents are to be made publicly available and what guidance it issues to public bodies on this matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive’s use of proprietary and non-proprietary software conforms to the UK Government’s policy which is described in Open Source Software EUse Within UK Government , which was published by the Office of the e-Envoy in July 2002. The Scottish Executive has not issued additional guidance to Scottish public sector organisations although open standards generally are promoted through the Information Age Government Framework .

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the funding of the ScotRail franchise has been in each year since 1998-99 and what the franchise funding costs will be in each of the next 10 years.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish franchise was let on 1 April 1997. The following information below shows franchise payments net of SPT passenger income from 1998 to 2002, taken from ScotRail's statutory accounts filed at Companies House. The costs of the next franchise will be determined by the outcome of the commercial bidding process.

  

 
 1998
1998 Prices
(£ Million)
 1999
1999 Prices
(£ Million)
 2000
2000 Prices
(£ Million)
 2001
2001 Prices
(£ Million)
 2002
2002 Prices
(£ Million)


 Franchise Payments
 231
 219
 211
 176
 213

Research

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support educational research.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is supporting educational research in a number of ways. On 23 June 2003, the Executive announced a new Applied Education Research Scheme. This is a £2 million five-year programme, jointly funded by the Executive and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, which aims to improve practice in schools and develop a clear strategy for the long-term growth of Scottish educational research. It is being run by a partnership between the universities of Edinburgh, Stirling and Strathclyde but will involve collaboration with all Scottish universities carrying out education-related research.

  The Executive’s Education Department has an annual research budget of £1.684 million used to commission research to support its policies on schools, children and young people and tourism, culture and sport. Just over half is currently spent on education research. In addition, some education research is funded directly from programme monies e.g. the evaluation of Future Learning and Teaching projects. Within the main research budget £100,000 has been set aside for a sponsored programme designed to provide a flexible source of funding for small-scale projects in the education and young people fields. This is a responsive programme intended to encourage ideas from researchers working in any type of organisation or who are self-employed.

  The Executive’s Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department has an annual research budget of £316,000 used to commission research principally in the area of Lifelong Learning (including higher education and further education research). Research is also commissioned in the area of enterprise. In addition, some research activity is funded by divisional programme budgets. The Executive is also contributing £2.041 million to the Economic and Social Research Council’s Teaching and Learning Research Programme between 1999 and 2007. This contribution is ring fenced to be spent in Scotland.

Research

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available to the Economic and Social Science Council’s teaching and learning programme and how much has been expended in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is committed to contributing £2,041,463 to the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) between 1999 and 2008. So far, the Scottish Executive has spent £1 million on Phases 1 and 2 (1999-2003). Phase 3 (2003-07) has recently started and the first instalment of £200,000 has been allocated for 2003-04, leaving £800,000 to be paid from Phase 3 and a further £41,463 to be paid from Phases 1 and 2 between 2004-08.

  The ESRC has awarded £1,194,566 worth of contracts to Scottish projects in Phases 1 and 2. The Scottish Executive has been contractually guaranteed by the ESRC that at least all of its contribution will be ring fenced to be spent in Scotland.

Roads

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32620 by Lewis Macdonald on 13 December 2002, when it will publish the Performance Audit Group’s report on the second year of operation of the trunk road operating companies.

Nicol Stephen: The report, entitled Public report on the second year of the trunk road operating companies E2002/2003 , will be published today. The report, which has been prepared by the Performance Audit Group, will be available on the Scottish Executive’s web page and copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28923). Further copies can be obtained directly from the Performance Audit Group by writing to them at 16 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6LB.

Speed Cameras

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence has been published in the last 10 years showing the impact of the deployment of fixed speed cameras on accident rates.

Cathy Jamieson: There have been a number of publications relating to safety cameras in the last 10 years, both in the UK and abroad. These publications have included evidence of reductions in speeding, accidents and injuries as a result of fixed cameras. Among relevant publications in the UK are the following.

  Cost Benefit Analysis of Traffic Light and Speed Cameras: Police Research Series Paper 20 - published by the Home Office in August 1996.

  West London Speed Camera Demonstration Project - published by the Highways Agency, July 1997.

  A cost recovery system for speed and red-light cameras - two-year pilot evaluation- research paper published by the Department for Transport, February 2003.

Speed Cameras

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of installing and operating a fixed speed camera.

Cathy Jamieson: The estimated cost of a single gatsometer fixed speed camera is £30,000. The costs of installation and operation are additional. These will very much depend on factors such as the location of the camera and the intensity of its use.

Speed Cameras

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue was generated from fines for speeding imposed as a result of the evidence of fixed speed cameras in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Information at this level of detail is not held centrally. While information is available on speeding fines, this does not separately identify the amount attributable to fixed safety cameras.

Warm Deal

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Warm Deal grant scheme to allow for the payment of costs incurred in erecting scaffolding, and any other adjunct items, required for the installation of cavity wall insulation and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The cost of all equipment necessary for the installation of individual measures carried out under the Warm Deal Grant are included in the contract rates negotiated between Eaga Partnership and the insulation installers.

  Eaga Partnership, who administer the grant on behalf of the Scottish Executive, negotiate the best rates possible for the installation of the Warm Deal measures ensuring best value for taxpayers money.

Water Environment and Water Services Act (Scotland) 2003

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its plans for the designation of river basin districts as required under section 4 of the Water Environment and Water Services Act (Scotland) 2003.

Ross Finnie: I am publishing today a consultation paper: River Basin Districts - Proposals for Scotland . I am placing copies in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28995).

  The Executive promised to consult before a final decision was taken on the boundaries of the proposed river basin districts, and this new consultation fulfils that commitment. The consultation paper contains the Executive’s legislative intentions for the implementation of the designation of River Basin Districts in Scotland and in the cross border area with England.

  The act has laid the foundation for a modernised approach to protecting and enhancing the water environment. The need to involve, take account of and balance all interests will be a cornerstone of this new approach, especially in the cross border areas, where we will work closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency to ensure effective implementation of the Water Framework Directive.